Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

A. HAVEN.

BOOT 0R SHOE.

it I M W 7 r 7 m p 1 e r J v Y v J d m w .fi/ a P W, a M m N w N. PETERS. Phmmum m hur, Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONZO HAVEN, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Boo-r OR SHOE.

BPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,095, dated July 5, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHONZQ HAVEN, of Broekton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have inventedeertain new and useful Improvements in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to boots or shoes of the kind commonly known as Congress, having an elastic gore at thesides of the ankle portion, the function of which elastic gore is to provide for a yielding of that portion of the boot or shoe in which it is set, so that it can be readily drawn on or off the foot of the wearer, and to cause the top or leg portion of the shoe to neatly fit or closely hug the ankle when said shoe is in position on the foot.

It is the object of my invention to provide improved means whereby such elastic gore may be adjusted to suit any peculiar form or size of ankle where the shoe is otherwise smoothly and properly shaped to fit the foot, so as not only to secure comfort to the wearer, but avoid the expense attending the necessity of having shoes especially made in order to merely suit such peculiar size or form of ankle.

My invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon,similarlettersindicating similar parts in all of the views.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a Congress shoe embodying myinvention, showing the two parts of the goring closely and fully laced. Fig. 2 represents a like View, showing the lace-string partially removed. Fig. 3 represents a section on the line 00 at, Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention I construct a Congress boot or shoe, a, in any suitable or known manner, except as to the elastic goring at the sides of the ankle, and this goring I make in two parts or sections, b 0, instead of one, as heretofore-that is, I make the goring as though the form heretofore common were longitudinally divided in the center,

and stitch to the edges formed by this division a binding, cl, in which at proper intervals I secure eyelets e,and draw said edges together, or as nearly together as may be desired, by a lace-string, f, threaded back and forth through the eyelets, in the usual manner of lacing a shoe, the sections 1) 0 extending to the extreme top of the ankle portion, so that the usual elasticity of the ankle portion is preserved. I also prefer to stitch to one of the partsin this instance shown as the part 0- oneedge ofa tongue, g, of leather, and adapted to perform the functions usually fulfilled by such articles in lace-shoes.

By the means described an elastic goring of a Congress shoe can be adjusted to suit the size or form of the foot or ankle of the wearer, or so as to secure the greatest ease and comfort, and when so adjusted the ends of the lacestring can be securely tied and the adjustment maintained, the shoe being used without unlacing,in the same manner as an ordinary Congress shoe, in drawing it 011 or removing it from the foot.

I am aware that lace-shoes have heretofore been constructed in which strips of elastic material have been inserted and sewed into holes cut in the leather for that purpose on each side, of the shoe over and above the instep, such elastic strips being laced tightly together,

' but not extending to the top of the ankle portion. While this construction fairly meetsits purpose of providing for a free and easy use of the ankle -joint under ordinary circumstances, it does not enable the shoe to be applied and removed without unlacing it. My invention is not a 1-ace-shoe, and the lacingcord f is not loosened preparatory to applying and removing the boot.

I am also aware that it has been proposed to construct a Congress boot with compound gores-that is, with elastic gores having a nonelastic strip down the center; but in constructions of this character there is no adjustment of the gorings to fit ankles of unusual size or shape, as in my shoe.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim is- A Congress gaiter having two elastic side gorings, one of which is divided into sections b 0, extending to the extreme top of the ankle to this specifieationfln the presence oftwo subportion, and having eyeleted bindings d d at scribing witnesses, this 8th day of December, IO their adjacent edges, alacing, f, whereby said 1886.

sections may be permanently secured at any 5 desired adjustment, and a tongue, g,seeured to ALPHONZO HAVEN the inner edge portion of one of said gore-sec- NVitnesses: tions, substantially as set forth. O. F. BROWN,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name ARTHUR W. ORossLEY. 

